UPDATE: March 24, 1:30 p.m.
The parents, Michelle Campbell, 30, and Paul Weber, 31, both of the Glenview Street home, have been arrested for child endangerment and charged with endangering the welfare of a child, as well as recklessly endangering a person.
Original story follows:
PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Police called to a home in Northeast Philadelphia on Thursday found a little boy locked in a dog cage and two little girls showing indications of neglect.
Public Information Officer Eric Gripp says it all started around 1 p.m. with a 911 call about a person screaming. Responding officers arrived at a home on the 4200 block of Glenview Street, a half-block away from Vogt Playground, where they found two young girls, ages 3 and 5, partially dressed, standing in the rain outside to the rear of the property.
"Officers were able to pick them up and gain entry into the property. Once they got in there, they came upon a 6-year-old boy that was locked inside a dog cage," Gripp said.
The boy was naked, and the cage had been locked shut with a zip tie. After releasing the boy, the officers searched the house, Gripp said.
"Also in the property was an elderly woman that was in a wheelchair, as well as an adult male that was upstairs," he said.
The woman is believed to be in her 80s, and the man, about 40 years old, is believed to have diminished mental capacity of some kind.
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The kids were taken to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia for evaluation. They appear to have no physical injuries.
"This is a tragic situation," Gripp said. "We don't know entirely everything that's going on here. We have a long investigation ahead of us. But obviously, we don't live in a world where, under any [circumstances] whatsoever, we should have a child inside of a cage."
Gripp said a woman approached the officers at the property, stating that she is the mother of one of the girls. She was taken to the Special Victims Unit for questioning.
"We're going to work along with [the Philadelphia Department of Human Services] to make sure that these children get the care that they need and the help that they need, while we continue to go through the rest of this investigation," Gripp said.
Neighbors describe the block as quiet. Kids could be seen outside playing while investigators were on the scene.
"I've never seen this on this block every time I come past this way and it's nice outside," said a neighbor. "You always see kids out here."
No charges have been announced at this time, as officials continue to investigate.
HOW TO SEND AN ANONYMOUS TIP
Police ask anybody with information about what was going on at that house to contact them.
— Telephone or text message: 215-686-8477
— Email, including photos and videos: tips@phillypolice.com
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